Attache case



March 28, 1967 Filed July 28, 1965 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 A O 0 no L 8 26b 26FIG. 6

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u L 3 e 10 INVENTORS.

CLARENCE F. SCHELL HORACE R. SCHELL DEO F. UMBENHAUER March 28, 1967SCHELL ET AL ATTACHE CASE 5 Sheets-Sheet 3 Filed July 28, 1965 FEG.

FIG. I IO FIG. l5

NV NT CLARENCE F SHQEE HORACE R SHELL DEO F. UMBENHAUER .BYfifl/ZKZWWMIMAttorneys.

FIG.

United States Patent 3,311,;a2 ATTACHE IASE Horace 1R. Schell andClarence F. Schell, Cincinnati, and

Deo F. Umbenhauer, Dayton, Ohio, assignors to cheli Leather Goods Co.,Inn, Cincinnati, Ohio, a corporation of Ohio Filed July 28, 1965, Ser.No. 475,391) 6 Claims. (Cl. 190-16) This invention relates to aconstruction of a brief or attach.

An object of this invention is to provide an attache. case including aneasel which folds into the attach case when not in use and which can beset upright for use in supporting displays.

A further object of this invention is to provide an attach case of thistype in which the easel can be set in a plurality of upright positionsfor supporting the display at various angles.

A further object of this invention is to provide an attach case of thistype in which the easel extends up wardly and inwardly from a front edgeof a front wall of a lower section of the case and in which a V-shapedtrough is formed between the front wall and the easel to receive andhold a lower ed e of the display.

A further object of this invention is to provide an attach case of thistype in which a stand or leg for supporting the easel is adapted to resteither on the bottom of the main portion of the case, or on a ribattached to a rear wall of the case, or upon a rear wall of an uppersection of the case to support the easel in various positions.

A further object of this invention is to provide an attach case of thistype in which the front wall of the upper section of the case is adaptedto fit over an upper edge of the easel with a flexible strap, which isattached to a front wall of the upper section and extends rearwardlytherefrom, overlying the upper edge of the easel, the strap forming adownwardly opening V to receive and hold an upper edge of the displaywhen the support leg is not in use.

The above and other objects and features of the invention will beapparent to those skilled in the art to which this invention pertainsfrom the following detailed description, and the drawings, in which:

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of an attach case constructed in accordancewith an embodiment of this invention, the case being shown open with aneasel thereof being shown in lowered position;

FIG. 2 is a view in section taken on the line 2-2 in FIG. 1, the easelbeing shown in a first raised position;

FIG. 3 is a view in section taken on the same line as FIG. 2 but showingthe easel in a second raised position;

FIG. 4 is a view in as FIG. 2 but showing tion;

FIG. 5 is a view in section taken on the same line as FIG. 2 but showingthe easel in a fourth raised position with an upper section of the casereceiving an upper edge portion of the easel;

FIG. 6 is a view in front elevation on an enlarged scale showing theattache case in the fourth raised position of FIG. 5;

FIG. 7 is a view in section on an enlarged scale taken on the line 7-7in FIG. 2;

FIG. 8 is a view in section on an enlarged scale taken on the line 8-8in FIG. 6;

FIG. 9 is a view in section on an enlarged scale taken on the line 9-9in FIG. 6;

FIG. 10 is a view in section taken on the line 10-16 in FIG. 8;

section taken on the same line the easel in a third raised posi- FIG. 11is a plan view of an easel for a case constructed in accordance withanother embodiment of this invention, wings thereof being shown in openposition, hinge lines therein being shown by dashed lines;

FIG. 12 is a view in section taken on the line 12-12 in FIG. 11;

FIG. 13 is a view in section taken on the same line as FIG. 12 butshowing a wing in folded position;

FIG. 14 is a fragmentary view in transverse section of a case includingthe easel of FIG. 11; and

FIG. 15 is a view in section taken on the line 15-15 in FIG. 7.

In the following detailed description, and the drawings, like referencecharacters indicate like parts.

In FIG. 1 is shown an attach case having a lower open-top box-likesection 10 and an upper open-bottom box-like section 12 which are hingedtogether by hinges 13 and 14 attached to a rear wall 16 (FIG. 2) of thelower section 10 and a rear wall 18 of the upper section 12. Links 13::and 18b pivoted to each other and to the upper and lower sections canserve to hold the upper section 12 in the raised position of FIGS. 2, 3,and 4. Latches 19 and 21 (FIG. 1) attached to a front wall 22 of theupper section can cooperate with latch keepers 23 and 24, respectively,mounted on a front wall 25 of the lower section it) to close the case inthe usual manner. A handle 26 is hingedly mounted on the front wall 25on hinge brackets 26:: and 26b for use in carrying the case. Anexpandable receptacle or envelope 27 is mounted in the upper section andincludes a front panel 28 hinged to the rear wall 18 (FIG. 3) andaccordiontype side walls 29 (only one of which is shown) attached to thefront panel 28 and to a top panel 31 of the upper section. A leatherstrap 32 is attached to the front wall 22 by a rivet 33 and isreleasably attachable to the front panel 23 by a snap fastener 34.

An easel receiving strip 36 is mounted on the front wall 25. The stripincludes integral blocks 37 (FIGS. 7 and 15) at the ends of the strip tospace the body of the strip from the front wall 25. The blocks 37 areadjacent side walls 39 and 41. A slot 42 (FIG. 8) is formed between thefront wall 25 and the strip 36. An arcuate rib 43 (FIG. 10) integralwith the strip 36 spaces the central part of the strip from the frontwall 25 as shown in FIG. 8. Rivets 43:: attach the strip 36 to the frontwall 25.

An easel 44 (FIG. 2) is mounted in the case. The easel 44 includes amain plate portion 46 and a lower plate or tab 47 hinged thereto. Thelower plate 47 is received in the slot 42 (FIGS. 7 and 8). An arcuatecutaway portion 48 (FIG. 10) of the lower plate 47 engages the arcuaterib 43 of the strip 36 for centering the easel. The main plate portion46 of the easel can swing between a lower position shown in FIG. 1 andvarious raised positions shown in FIGS. 2, 3, 4, and 5. A rib 49 (FIGS.2 and 3) is attached to the rear wall 16 and supports the rear edge ofthe main plate portion 46 of the easel 44 when the easel is in thelowered position of FIG. 1. As shown in FIGS. 2 and 3, an easel supportstand or leg 51 is hingedly attached to the rear face of the main plateportion 46 of the easel. Pads 52 and 53 attached to the main plateportion 46 of the easel 44 and to the support leg 51, respectively, canreleasably attach the main plate portion 46 of the easel and the supportleg 51 together in substantial parallelism, as

H shown in FIG. 5 when the easel is in lowered position or in thepositions of FIGS. 5, 6, and 9. The pads 52 and 53 can be of thematerial disclosed in Patent No. 2,717,437 and often spoken of asVelcro.

When the easel 44 is in use, it can be positioned in any one of thepositions shown in FIGS. 2, 3, 4, and 5. In the FIG. 2 position, a lowerend of the support leg 51 is received at the intersection of the rearWall 16 and a bottom wall 56 of the lower section of the case to holdthe easel in a first raised position. In the FIG. 3 position, a lowerend of the support leg 51 rests on the rib 49 to hold the easel at asecond raised position. In the FIG. 4 position, the lower end of thesupport leg 51 rests on the rear wall 18 of the upper section to holdthe easel at a third raised position. In the FIG. position, the supportleg 51 is held in inoperative position by attachment of the pads 52 and53 together. The upper end of the main plate 46 of the easel 44 isreceived in engagenent with the strap 32, a portion of the strap 32between the rivet 33 (FIG. 9) and the front panel 29 being bent upwardlyto form an inverted V thereover. In each of its positions, the easel cansupport a display. In FIG. 1, a display 58 is indicated in dot-dashlines disposed on the easel in position for storing in the case. Whenthe easel is in one of its raised positions, a lower edge of the displaycan be received between the panel 46 and the front wall of the lowersection of the case as shown in FIG. 8. When the case is in the positionof FIGS. 5, 6, and 9, the upper end of the display is received in theinverted V of the strip 32 to hold the display against inadvertentdisplacement.

In FIGS. lll4, inclusive, is shown a case 61 (FIG. 14) including aneasel 62 constructed in accordance with another embodiment of theinvention. The case 61 can be similar in construction to the casealready described. As shown in FIG. 11, the easel 62 includes arectangular main panel 63, along a lower edge of which is hinged a lowerplate or tab 64 provided with a central arcuate cutaway portion 66 whichfunctions in the same manner as the tab of the case already described.Side wings 67 and 68 are hinged to the main panel 63 by hinges 69 and71, respectively. As shown in FIG. 12, the hinge 69 is constructed tohold the wing 67 in position aligned with the main panel 63. However,the side wing 67 can be folded inwardly, as shown in FIG. 13, forstoring inside the case when not in use. The side wing 68 and the hinge71 operate similarly.

A support 74 (FIG. 11) is formed from the material of the main panel,being separated therefrom by lines of cut 76, 77, and 78 and hingedthereto along a hinge line 79. The easel can be formed of appropriateboard-like material having a fabric of leather covering which can formthe hinges. As shown in FIG. 14, a lower end of the support can hold theeasel in selected positions in the same manner as in the constructionalready described.

The case constructions illustrated in the drawings and described aboveare subject to structural modification without departing from the spiritand scope of the appended claims.

Having described our invention, what we claim as new and desire tosecure by Letters Patent, is:

1. A case which comprises an upwardly opening boxshaped lower section, adownwardly opening box-shaped upper section, means for hinging thesections together at adjacent edges of rear walls thereof, an easelpanel, means for hinging a lower edge of the easel panel to a front wallof the lower section spaced below an upper edge thereof, a support leghinged to a rear face of the easel panel, a rib attached to the rearwall of the lower section of the case, a lower edge of the support legbeing receivable alternately upon the rib, upon the rear wall of theupper section and upon a bottom wall of the lower section to support theeasel plate at various raised positions, and a ilexi' 'ble strapattached to a front wall of the upper section and extending rearwardlytherefrom, an upper edge of the easel panel being engageable by thestrap to hold the easel panel at a further raised position, there beingV-shaped slots at upper and lower edges of the easel panel formedbetween the easel panel and the front wall of the lower section and thestrap respectively for receiving lower and upper edges of a display, theupper edge of the easel panel being adapted to rest on the rib when in alowered position.

2. A case which comprises an upwardly opening boxshaped lower section, adownwardly opening box-shaped upper section, means for hinging thesections together at adjacent edges of rear walls thereof, an easelpanel, means for hinging a lower edge of the easel panel to a front wallof the lower section spaced below an upper edge thereof, a rib attachedto the rear wall of the lower section of the case, and a flexible strapattached to a front wall of the upper section and extending rearwardlytherefrom, an upper edge of the easel panel being engageable by thestrap to hold the easel panel at a raised position, there being V-shapedslots at upper and lower edges of the easel panel formed between theeasel panel and the front wall of the lower section and the straprespectively for receiving lower and upper edges of a display, the upperedge of the easel panel being adapted to rest on the rib when in alowered position.

3. A case which comprises an upwardly opening boxshaped lower section, adownwardly opening box-shaped upper section, means for hinging thesections together at adjacent edges of rear walls thereof, an easelpanel, means for hinging a lower edge of the easel panel to a front wallof the lower section spaced below an upper edge thereof, a support leghinged to the easel panel, and a rib attached to the rear wall of thelower section of the case, a lower edge of the support leg beingreceivable alternately upon the rib, upon the rear wall of the uppersection and upon a bottom wall of the lower section to support the easelpanel at various raised positions, an upper edge of the easel panelbeing adapted to rest on the rib when in a lowered position.

4. A case which comprises an upwardly opening boxshaped lower section, adownwardly opening box-shaped upper section, means for hinging thesections together at adjacent edges of rear walls thereof, an easelpanel, means for hinging a lower edge of the easel panel to a front wallof the lower section spaced below an upper edge thereof, a support leghinged to a rear face of the easel panel, a rib attached to the rearwall of the lower section of the case, a lower edge of the support legbeing receivable alternately upon the rib, upon the rear wall 'of theupper section and upon a bottom wall of the lower section to support theeasel plate at various raised positions, a flexible strap attached to afront wall of the upper section and extending rearwardly therefrom, anupper edge of the easel panel being engageable by the strap to hold theeasel panel at a further raised position, there being V-shaped slots atupper and lower edges of the easel panel formed between the easel paneland the front wall of the lower section and the strap respectively forreceiving lower and upper edges of a display, the upper edge of theeasel panel being adapted to rest on the rib when in a lowered position,and means for attaching lower portions of the easel panel and thesupport leg together when in lowered position.

5. A case which comprises an upwardly opening boxshaped lower section, adownwardly opening box-shaped upper section, means for hinging thesections together at adjacent edges of rear walls thereof, an easelpanel, means for hinging a lower edge of the easel panel to a front wallof the lower section spaced below an upper edge thereof, a support leghinged to a rear face of the easel panel, a rib attached to the rearwall of the lower section of the case, a lower edge of the support legbeing receivable alternately upon the rib, upon the rear wall of theupper section and upon a bottom wall of the lower section to support theeasel plate at various raised positions, an upper edge of the easelpanel being adapted to rest on the rib when in a lowered position, andmeans for attaching lower portions of the easel panel and the supportleg together when in lowered position.

6. A case which comprises an upwardly opening boxshaped lower section, adownwardly opening box-shaped upper section, means for hinging thesection together at adjacent edges of rear walls thereof, an easelpanel, means for hinging a lower edge of the easel panel to a front wallof a lower section spaced below an upper edge thereof, a support leghinged to a rear face of the easel panel, a

5 6 rib attached to the rear Wall 'of the lower section of theReferences Cited by the Examiner case, a lower edge of the support legbeing receivable UNITED STATES PATENTS alternately upon the rib, uponthe rear Wall of the upper section and upon a bottom wall of the lowersection to 317799] 4/1965 Walher 190-11 support the easel panel atvarious raised positions, an 5 FOREIGN PATENTS upper edge of the easelpanel being adapted to rest on 1,005 809 1/1952 France. the rib when ina lowered position, and wing panels hinged 6991850 11/1953 Great Britainto opposite side edges of the easel panel and foldable be- 51,42310/1919 Sweden tween an outer position aligned with the easel panel andan inner position overlying the easel panel inside the case. 10 FRANKLINT. GARRETT, Primary Examiner.

1. A CASE WHICH COMPRISES AN UPWARDLY OPENING BOXSHAPED LOWER SECTION, ADOWNWARDLY OPENING BOX-SHAPED UPPER SECTION, MEANS FOR HINGING THESECTIONS TOGETHER AT ADJACENT EDGES OF REAR WALLS THEREOF, AN EASELPANEL, MEANS FOR HINGING A LOWER EDGE OF THE EASEL PANEL TO A FRONT WALLOF THE LOWER SECTION SPACED BELOW AN UPPER EDGE THEREOF, A SUPPORT LEGHINGED TO A REAR FACE OF THE EASEL PANEL, A RIB ATTACHED TO THE REARWALL OF THE LOWER SECTION OF THE CASE, A LOWER EDGE OF THE SUPPORT LEGBEING RECEIVABLE ALTERNATELY UPON THE RIB, UPON THE REAR WALL OF THEUPPER SECTION AND UPON A BOTTOM WALL OF THE LOWER SECTION TO SUPPORT THEEASEL PLATE AT VARIOUS RAISED POSITIONS, AND A FLEXIBLE STRAP ATTACHEDTO A FRONT WALL OF THE UPPER SECTION AND EXTENDING REARWARDLY THEREFROM,AN UPPER EDGE OF THE EASEL PANEL BEING ENGAGEABLE BY THE STRAP TO HOLDTHE EASEL PANEL AT A FURTHER RAISED POSITION, THERE BEING V-SHAPED SLOTSAT UPPER AND LOWER EDGES OF THE EASEL PANEL FORMED BETWEEN THE EASELPANEL AND THE FRONT WALL OF THE LOWER SECTION AND THE STRAP RESPECTIVELYFOR RECEIVING LOWER AND UPPER EDGES OF A DISPLAY, THE UPPER EDGE OF THEEASEL PANEL BEING ADAPTED TO REST ON THE RIB WHEN IN A LOWERED POSITION.